Which Bosch eBike System is Right for Me?

If you’ve been shopping around for a reliable, high-quality e-bike to replace car trips with, chances are you’ll have heard great things about Bosch. The German engineering and technology giant has long been trusted by consumers around the world to provide precision-crafted, certified e-bike systems that deliver a cycling experience that’s both powerful and natural.

Tern’s leisure, folding, and family electric bikes are designed around the Bosch eBike System 2 or Bosch Smart System. You can easily identify which Bosch e-bike system is used on one of our e-bikes by taking a look at where the indicator lights are located on the battery:

Bosch eBike System 2	Bosch Smart System

To help you decide which system is best suited for your e-biking needs, we’ve narrowed the list down to a few key similarities and differences.

First, the similarities:

1. Both systems are reliable and certified for safety

Bosch is the No. 1 trusted name in e-bike systems, and it’s easy to see why. They’ve taken their extensive knowledge and expertise in the automotive and electronics sectors and applied the same high-quality manufacturing standards to their e-bike systems. Both the Bosch eBike System 2 and Bosch Smart System are precisely-engineered and put through Bosch’s stringent quality control and testing measures to guarantee maximum reliability under frequent use.

Moreover, Bosch goes the extra mile when it comes to getting their e-bike systems third-party tested and certified to UL 2849, the most comprehensive and rigorous standard for e-bike electrical systems to date. The battery, charger, motor, on-board computer, and wiring used in both e-bike systems are individually tested for safety against potential electrical system hazards, as well as together for system safety.

With many local governments now pushing for stricter e-bike regulations due to concerns over fire safety and even flat out banning e-bikes without UL certification, you can rest assured your Bosh electric bicycle is in full compliance with the law and well-protected against fire hazards.

2. Unbeatable support you can count on

An e-bike, like any other vehicle you plan to use for the long-term, will eventually need to have parts repaired or replaced, including the motor and battery. Unfortunately, many low-end or no-name e-bike motor and battery manufacturers don’t have plans in place to support their customers past the initial few years of purchase, leaving them stranded and scrambling for spare parts and replacement batteries once their e-bikes break down. To add further difficulty, many shops will refuse to service e-bikes with no-name motors and batteries, as e-bike mechanics prefer working with quality parts they know and trust.

Bosch and we at Tern believe in keeping our e-bikes up and running smoothly for as long as possible. Bosch devotes a considerable amount of its resources to maintaining a vast network of well-trained e-bike dealers (including certified Tern dealers) and service centers, and keeps an impressive inventory of spare parts and batteries available for its customers years down the road—even for motor systems they’ve discontinued. Similarly, Tern ensures spare parts are made available to keep our riders on the road for at least 7 years from the date of purchase, in addition to our 10-year limited warranty for any Tern-developed frame, fork, and handlepost.

So, whether the Tern e-bike you’ve got your eyes on comes with the Bosch eBike System 2 or Bosch Smart System, you’ll be guaranteed expert support and replacement parts for years to come from both Bosch and Tern when you make your purchase at your local Bosch-certified Tern dealer.

3. You’ll love the riding experience

Bosch develops premium e-bike systems with the goal of making e-assisted cycling more efficient, comfortable, and fun, whether it’s leisure rides in the city or off-grid adventures in the mountains. And both the Bosch eBike System 2 and Bosch Smart System deliver just that. Each component of their Bosch drive system, including the motor, sensor, battery, and on-board computer, is deliberately calibrated and communicates with one another to ensure a unique and enjoyable ride. Supplemented by apps and digital services specially created by Bosch to allow riders access to additional features and functions for more personalization options, we bet you’ll love the riding experience regardless of which Bosch e-bike system your Tern bike comes with.

Here’s where they differ:

1. Smart vs straightforward e-bike experience

The Bosch Smart System, as its name implies, comes with a list of smart features and functions Bosch created to bring additional convenience to riders—GPS tracking, smart e-bike alarm, over-the-air updates, and using your smartphone as a digital key to unlock the motor support, just to name a few. Most of them are controlled through your smartphone via Bluetooth connection to your bike, and can take a bit of time to set up and lots of practice to get used to.

Having these smart features and functions are great, especially if you’re a rider who likes to keep up with the latest technologies the e-bike world has to offer. But if you don’t need them in your everyday life and prefer to keep your bike separated from your phone, then the Bosch eBike System 2 may be the better option for you. E-bikes using this system will still come with an on-board computer that displays all the essential information you need for your ride, and you’ll be able to simply hop on and go without having to worry about Bluetooth connection or phone pairing.

2. The smart one costs (substantially) more

You guessed it. The newer Bosch Smart System is gonna cost you a lot more coin for all those smart features and functions. Moreover, many of the advanced features such as GPS tracking and smart e-bike alarm require an additional hardware called the ConnectModule to be installed, as well as a monthly subscription to the Bosch Flow+ app. Which, for those looking to get the most out of their digitally-connected e-biking experience, is completely worth the money.

But if you don’t need the smart features and just want the best quality e-bike system for your money, the lower-cost Bosch eBike System 2 fits the bill perfectly.

3. None of the components from the two systems are interchangeable—including the battery

Families with multiple e-bikes often like the option of being able to share the chargers and batteries between their bikes for greater convenience. This is possible with Bosch e-bikes, but with one catch—they must be equipped with the same e-bike system. That is, the Bosch eBike System 2 and Bosch Smart System each come with components that only work on their respective e-bikes.

So, if you already own an e-bike that uses the Bosch eBike System 2 and are thinking about getting a second Bosch electric bike, you may want to consider sticking with the same system to be able to easily share the batteries and chargers.

Bosch e-bike systems are undeniably some of the best around, with a proven track record of outstanding performance and safety, as well as a comprehensive service network for reliable customer support—which is why we use ‘em for our e-bikes! Bosch eBike System 2 offers a more straightforward e-bike experience, while Bosch Smart System allows you to explore all the possibilities of a digitally-connected e-bike. But no matter which system you end up with for your Tern electric bike, you’re in for one sweet ride that is built to last.

For more information and the latest updates on Bosch e-bike systems, please visit the Bosch website.